The WSJ writes "the new hard line taken by....>

CHINA: The WSJ writes "the new hard line taken by China in trade

talks-surprising the White House and threatening to derail negotiations-came

after Beijing interpreted recent statements and actions by President Trump as a

sign the U.S. was ready to make concessions, said people familiar with the

thinking of the Chinese side. The hardened battle lines were prompted by

Beijing's decision to take a more aggressive stance in negotiations, according

to the people following the talks. They said Beijing was emboldened by the

perception that the U.S. was ready to compromise. In particular, these people

said, Mr. Trump's hectoring of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut

interest rates was seen in Beijing as evidence that the president thought the

U.S. economy was more fragile than he claimed. Beijing was further encouraged by

Mr. Trump's frequent claim of friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and

by Mr. Trump's praise for Chinese Vice Premier Liu He for pledging to buy more

U.S. soybeans."